Optical image stabilizer for camera lens assembly

Abstract

An optical image stabilizer for a camera lens assembly is disclosed, wherein the stabilizer includes a housing; a board disposed movably in the housing, the board and the housing being spaced apart from each other; an image sensor disposed on the board for transforming image information inputted thereto into electric signals; a plurality of wire frames for supporting the board, wherein both ends of each wire frame are coupled to the housing and the board, respectively; and a driving unit for correcting the position of the image sensor by moving the board according to degrees of trembling of user's hands. The driving unit on which an image sensor is mounted is present substantially on the same surface as the board itself, thereby allowing the downsize of a camera lens assembly.

1 . An optical image stabilizer for a camera lens assembly, comprising: 
 a housing;    a board movably disposed in the housing;    an image sensor disposed on the board for transforming image information inputted thereto into electric signals;    a plurality of wire frames for supporting the board, wherein both ends of each wire frame are coupled to the housing and the board, respectively; and    a driving unit for correcting the position of the image sensor by moving the board according to degrees of trembling of user's hands.    
   
   
       2 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wire frames support four sites of the board and each wire frame has U shape.  
   
   
       3 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wire frame is formed of carbon steel materials.  
   
   
       4 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein both ends of the wire frame are fixed to the housing and to the board, respectively, by means of an epoxy adhesive.  
   
   
       5 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the driving unit includes: 
 a first driving unit for reciprocating the board linearly in a first direction relative to the housing; and    a second driving unit for reciprocating the board linearly in a second direction relative to the housing.    
   
   
       6 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the board has a flat planar shape, the first direction extends horizontally to one surface of the board, and the second direction extends perpendicularly to the first direction and extends horizontally to one surface of the board.  
   
   
       7 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and the second driving units includes: 
 a driving element attached on the board;    a first support extending from the driving element and reciprocating linearly on the board in the direction horizontal to the board;    a second support disposed on the housing in parallel to the first support;    a first link rotatably coupled to the first support; and    a second link rotatably coupled to the first link at one end thereof and rotatably coupled to the second support at the other end thereof.    
   
   
       8 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 5 , further including: 
 an angular velocity sensor disposed on a camera equipped with the camera lens assembly for measuring a change in angular velocity in each of the first direction and the second direction and for detecting the degrees of trembling of user's hand;    a position detector for detecting a position of the board relative to the housing, the position detector including a photo diode disposed on the housing and a light emitting diode disposed on the board in a position corresponding to the photo diode; and    a controller for operating the driving unit according to the degrees of trembling of user's hands detected from the angular velocity sensor and the position of the board relative to the housing detected from the position detector.    
   
   
       9 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the driving element is a ultrasonic motor.  
   
   
       10 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the driving element is a piezoelectric element.  
   
   
       11 . The optical image stabilizer as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the driving element is a step motor.